Please email Mr. Clark at the address above with YOUR questions about Financial Services (FS for short). Here are some questions that others have been asking...

    

FS FAQs

  

Question: When do the classes meet next year? How many credits are the classes worth?

Answer: Juniors will meet during bells 5-6, all year long. Seniors will meet during bells 1-2, all year long. The two-year program is worth a total of 4 credits.  

    

Question: This class is "college prep". What does that mean? How will this class help my daughter get ready for college?

Answer: The FS curriculum is closely aligned with the core business classes offered in most college business programs. Our textbooks are college-level books, the curriculum challenges students to think critically, and the emphasis on teamwork prepares students for the demands of college projects. We have articulation agreements with many area colleges, which allow students to earn college credit and/or place out of introductory college business classes. Scholarships are also available through Tech Prep and BPA.

  

Question: What is BPA? What are competitions?

Answer: Business Professionals of America (BPA for short) is a national student organization for business students (and is the largest student organization at our school). BPA provides business students with opportunities for leadership, community service, and team building. For competitions, students select two business events of interest (pretty much anything you can imagine that relates to business) and they compete with students in the region, state, and across nation. Please see the new "BPA" page of this website or www.bpa.org for more details!

    

Question: Financial Services is a "Butler Tech" class. What does this mean? 

Answer: Many of the electives offered in the district are provided by Butler Tech now (Business Technologies, Business Foundations, all of the career center programs, NJROTC, Foods, Fashion Design, etc.). Butler Tech has been able to update all of the technology, equipment and supplies in these courses and reduce the class fees. This means a higher quality educational experience for students at a much lower cost. The Butler Tech courses show up on report cards and transcripts just like any other Northwest class.

    

Question: Can you sign up for just one year of Financial Services?

Answer: No, this is a two-year program. If you sign up for FS, you commit to both years. I would encourage your son/daughter to speak with current students about this - I think that you will find that most students are glad that the program is so comprehensive.

         

Question: What are the requirements to apply for Financial Services?

   Answer: Admission into the Financial Services program is extremely competitive. Minimum qualifications for applicants include: a 2.0 GPA; a "C" or better in Algebra I; junior standing at the start of the 2012-13 school year with no academic deficiencies; and a 90% attendance rate. Students should have passed all five parts of the OGT during their sophomore year, or they will be required to take OGT summer make-up classes before the start of their junior year. There is also an application interview process. Speak with Mr. Clark for further information about the selection process.

  

Question: If I sign up for Financial Services, can I also take Intro to Business, Intro to Accounting, and Intro to Financial Services?

   Sure. We have many students who do this. These "intro" classes are meant to be broad introductions to business, accounting, and finance. They work especially well freshman or sophomore year before you take Financial Services ... but you can take them junior or senior year as well (and many students do!).